I made a new compression algorithm
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HN · launched Jan 29, 2026 · 9 upvotes (top 54%) · 0 views
Niche: file and data compression tools · 100 launches, 14 in the last 7 days ▲ +75% · Explore this niche →
Category and tags
- Horizontal
- Data infrastructure
- Developer
- Not AI
- Hobby / open-source project
Visit website ↗ Source listing ↗
More like this: all 100 launches in file and data compression tools →
Could you build this?
No Inventing a novel lossless or lossy data compression algorithm requires specialized theoretical computer science, information theory, and low-level algorithmic mastery.
What it would actually take: Developing a novel compression algorithm involves designing custom entropy coding (e.g., ANS or arithmetic coding) and context modeling techniques evaluated mathematically against Shannon entropy limits. Implementation is typically done in C/C++ or Rust with extensive SIMD optimizations and careful memory-layout engineering. This requires deep research expertise in data compression and information theory.
Discussion
10 comments analyzed.
Competitors mentioned: Zstandard (Zstd), Brotli, DEFLATE, LZW
Concerns raised: 8-10x slowdown vs. existing algorithms, Only 0.2% compression ratio improvement over outdated algorithms, README contains technical inaccuracies (ZIP/LZW confusion, DEFLATE details), Design inherently sacrifices speed for marginal ratio gains, Unclear if concept is genuinely novel or AI-generated without domain validation
Feature requests: Implement Weissman score benchmark
Competitors
Other products that read as similar to this one : 1026 launches clear the similarity bar, closest 8 shown.
Attention rank: #530 of 1027 (itself plus its competitors, highest first, normalized so YC and Product Hunt are compared fairly).
Launched 90 days after the earliest competitor.
- winace-compression-suite · github · 2026-11-10 · 102 upvotes · similarity 0.66
- I compressed videos by upto 78x while preserving faces,text and details · hn · 2026-08-28 · 5 upvotes · similarity 0.62
- UltraCompress · hn · 2026-05-08 · 6 upvotes · similarity 0.60
- RTI · github · 2026-09-10 · 14 upvotes · similarity 0.59
- The Token Company: Intelligent compression for LLM context bloat · yc · 2026-03-03 · 26 upvotes · similarity 0.58
- TurboQuant for vector search · hn · 2026-03-29 · 89 upvotes · similarity 0.58
- nibnib · github · 2026-10-30 · 150 upvotes · similarity 0.58
- TurboQuant · ph · 2026-03-25 · 295 upvotes · similarity 0.58
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